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JOSEPH H. MULLIN,` or SOHELLSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Lesers Patent No. 74,405, sans Febrmy 11, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'HORSE HAY -EORKS.

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TO ALL'WHOM IT MAY CON CERN:

l Be it known that I, 'JOSEPH H. MULLIN, of Schellsburg, in the county of Bedford,'and Stateof Pennsyl- Vania, have invented al newand useful Improvement in. Horse Hay-Forks, of which the following is a`full,clear,

and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part-of this specification, and in which- I i i Figure 1 represents a. view in elevation of my improved fork.

Figure 2, a similar view of the same, taken at a right anglo to the former one,- and Figure 3,.'a` view of the sliding har detached. I

The red liu-es inthe gnres show the position of the parts when lifting'the hay.

In order to carry out the objects of my invention, I form a longitudinal slot, a, in the shank of the fork, and provide a bar, B, to slide end wise longitudinally therein in suitable guides b. The lower end of this slidebar is guided by a slot, l1, which permits the slide-bar to traverse on a pin, c, passing transversely through the shank. `Two link-bars C, are likewise pivoted at onel end on this pin, so4 as to play vertically, their lower 4en ds being connected to similar` bars C1, the lower ends of which are pivoted, at b2, to the lower end of the slide-bar B. 'v The lower portion of the slide-bat` is made thinner thanthe upper part, in order to rallow room for these links to playfreely when the bar is down, and has a i'lange, C2, on it, for the support of the links when enclosed iu the'shank.l A loop, E, is secured rmly to the upper yend of the shaft, and may be provided with a ring, e, for the attachment of the hoisting-rope E. An eye, Bl, on the tcp of the slide-bamako receives a draw-rope, B2. The upper end of this bar is slotted to receive a locking-bolt, F, pivoted to play vertically in the shank,

and held in contact with the slide-bar by a spring.

The operation is as follows: 'The slide-bar B being shoved down in its sheath as far as it will go, in which position'the links C Cl are enclosed in the sheath, the hoisting-rope E isloosened, and the fork descends into lthe h ay. The locking-rope B2 is then drawn so as to lift the slide-bar, and thus expand the links C C1 into the position shown in red in g. 2, by which time the upper slotf comes opposite the locking-bolt F, which is forced by its springf into the slotf, and thus locks the slide-bar in position. The apparatus is then lifted 4by draw-f` inrg on the hoistingrope E. The projecting prongs C of the links bring up'the hay as they rise. The hay is then swung over the place of d eposit land dropped by pulling the tripping-rope Ef', whichreleases the latch F,

and allows the slide-bar to descend, and straighten on-t the links C C1, when .the hay dropsr,4 The fork is then swung over the hay to be lifted, and the above operation repeated.

It will be observed that the loop encloses and protects the latch and spring from,injury, while the sheath protects the links. i I i What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- The combination, substantially as described, of the shank, the loop E, ,the slotted sliding bar, and the spring-latch, for the .purposes set forth. v i v i In testimony whereof', I have hereunto subscribed my name.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. MULLIN, JOHN A. SNIvELY.

JOSEPH H.Y MULLIN. 

